The State of Play with Waste Management in Estonia Margit Rüütelmann Managing Director of EWMA

EstonianWaste Management Association (EWMA) ➢ Estonian Waste Management Association was established in 1996 as non – profit association by 26 waste management companies. ➢ Today EWMA has 45 members (private waste management companies) and 5 individual members.

EstonianWaste Management Association ➢ The mission of EWMA is to stand for the common interests of the members and to develop waste management in Estonia directed by the general principles of sustainable development.

Estonian Waste Management Association Collection and transport of municipal waste Collection and transport of seperately collected fractions Collection and transport of packaging waste Collection and transport of construction and demolition waste Recovery of costruction and demolition waste Collection, transport and treatment of hazardous waste Management of landfill sites Collection and treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous metals Street cleaning Maintenance of green areas, parks and beaches

The overall amount of generated waste in Estonia in 2002 was about 14,4 million tons. The dominating waste sources (at least 80%) are oil shale mining, oil shale chemistry and power production. Other branches of industry responsible for extensive waste generation are construction, timber and food processing industry. Municipal waste forms about 3 % of the total amount of waste. Generation of Waste in Estonia

➢ In 2002 the total number of municipal waste generated in Estonia was tons, which means 293 kg of waste per person. ➢ Almost a half of the total amount of municipal waste generated in Estonia comes from the capital Tallinn. ➢ At present municipal waste collection and transport is organized by direct contracts between waste producers and waste management companies. Generation of Waste in Estonia

EU Legislation and new Waste Act ➢ On the same day (1 st of May) Estonia became the member of the EU, the new Waste Act of Estonia entered into force. ➢ The New Waste Act takes into account the demands of EU environmental legislation. ➢ Enforcement of the new Waste Act brings many changes to the waste market in Estonia and waste management companies have to diversify the services they offer.

EU Legislation and new Waste Act ➢ The New Waste Act gives priority to re-use, followed by recycling and energy recovery. ➢ From 1 January 2008, unsorted waste cannot be disposed to landfill. ➢ In areas with treatment facilities, unsorted waste is banned from landfill from 16 July 2004.

EU Legislation and new Waste Act ➢ Under the new Waste Act, the mass biodegradable waste in municipal maste must not exceed 45% by 16 July % by 16 July % by 16 July 2020

Producer Responsibility ➢ Absolutely new item in the Waste Act is producer responsibility which should lead to the decreasing amounts of waste going to the landfill sites. ➢ For example, producers will be responsible for taking care of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE), most of which is currently landfilled. ➢ A collection and recycling system for WEEE needs to be established in Estonia and details of the financing scheme decided.

End-of-life Vechiles ➢ End-of-life (ELV) vehicles are another problem issue. ELVs are currently stripped on saleable parts at a vehicle dismantling facility before being shredded (steel and other metals are separated and recycled). ➢ Companies importing and selling cars in Estonia must now guarantee the collection, treatment or disposal of used cars.

Used Tyres ➢ Whole used tyres are already not accepted at landfills and, from 16 July 2006, this ban will also apply to shredded tyres. ➢ Importers and sellers of tyres have made steps to establish a collection and treatment system for used tyres.

Organised municipal waste collection ➢ According to the New Waste Act the local authorities have the obligation to administer organised municipal waste collection within their administrative territories starting January 1st, ➢ The aim of organised municipal waste collection/transport is to get almost all municipal waste holders covered with contracts.

Organised Municipal Waste Collection ➢ Municipal waste producers are required to subscribe to organized municipal waste collection/transport. ➢ Small local authorities have the possibility not to organize municipal waste collection/transport in certain areas because it is too expensive due to the small number of disproportionate location of waste producers or low volume of waste.

The Network of Compliant Landfill Sites ➢ According to the State Waste Management Plan and the Landfill Regulation from July landfill sites meeting requirements are operating in Estonia and all landfills that do not meet the requirements are closed. ➢ The closure process started in 2001 and today about 35 landfill sites (including landfills for waste from oil shale mining and processing) are operating in Estonia.

The Network of Compliant Landfill Sites ➢ Four new municipal waste landfill sites meeting all environmental requirements are already operating in Estonia. ➢ Non-compliant landfills are still operating and take waste at a relatively low price.The prices in landfill sites meeting all environmental require- ments are much higher than in non-compliant landfill sites

The Network of Compliant Landfill Sites ➢ The Estonian Parliament increased the rates of the pollution charge paid for the landfilling such that the charge for non-compliant landfill sites are 4 times higher than for compliant ones. ➢ 3/4 of the pollution charge goes to the local authority for the development of waste management in the area.